Have you ever had a pair of squeaky shoes? The sound of squeaking shoes while walking can be both annoying and embarrassing.
Especially if you’re at school or working in a formal environment like a quiet office, hall, or courtroom. This is why, in order to eliminate clicking sounds, I also produced a guide on how to make heels quieter!
Why do my shoes squeak? Before we can learn how to stop shoes from squeaking and creating other noises, we must first determine what is causing the squeak.
Why are Your Shoes Squealing?
The first step is to figure out why your shoes are making noise, which could be due to a variety of factors.
You have water in your shoes.
Some water shoes are made for water, while others are not. Your shoes are most likely squeaky because they have water in them. You’ve returned home after a particularly heavy downpour. It not only accompanies the whole thing with a little noise, but it also accompanies it with your saturated socks.
Your shoes could create screeching noises for months if they haven’t dried properly after getting wet. Water can be removed from the shoes to solve this problem. We’ll show you how to do that later in this article.
The sole is excessively smooth.
The surface you’re walking on is one of the most common causes. When polished surfaces come into contact with your shoe, they generate a squeaky noise, which is particularly noticeable when the shoes are new. It occurs when the soles and the ground are both overly smooth, causing friction between the two. New soles that rub against the inside of the shoe are the same. We can, fortunately, correct it.
Your shoes are beginning to show their age.
You must have considered it at some point. If your shoes are too old, we may lose pieces of the shoe in addition to the screaming. The good news is that you don’t have to get rid of them. You can do it yourself or hire someone to do it for you if you follow the instructions on this page. If you’re on a budget, these sturdy shoes are a good option.
10 Solutions for How to Stop Shoes From Squeaking
Consider why your shoes squeak before moving on to how to mend noisy shoes. Water damage is visible, but squeaks in the interior are less so. Listen to where you think the noise is coming from and use the tips above to narrow it down.
Of course, if you can’t figure out why your shoes are squeaky, it’s worth consulting a specialist. If these remedies don’t work, a cobbler (if they still exist in your neighborhood) might be able to help, or it might be worth obtaining a new pair.
To that end, here are my top tips for keeping your shoes from squeaking.
1. Allow them to air dry
Let’s start with the most obvious problem: water damage repair. It’s the simplest to diagnose (because you’ll notice when your shoes are wet) and the simplest to fix.
I’m not talking about mildly sweaty shoes here; I’m talking about rain boots. Scroll down to see my suggestions for how to mend damp sneakers.
The best way to dry your shoes depends on the material they’re made of. Because canvas and fabric shoes are similar to clothes, they can be tossed in the dryer. To avoid harming your dryer, wrap each shoe in a pillowcase.
Leather shoes, on the other hand, require more maintenance. They require less extreme heat to avoid shrinking and cracking.
Stuffing them with newspaper and leaving them somewhere warm but not on direct heat is the quickest way to dry them out. A boiler cupboard, for example, is great.
Replace the newspaper every 24 hours if they take longer than a day. Use a leather conditioner to restore moisture to them, and use saddle soap to clean any stains before drying them.
2. Rough up the bottoms of the shoes
Rubber soles are found in almost all shoes. EVA foam is commonly used in smart and formal shoes, while plain rubber is used in sneakers. New rubber soles, especially on hard floors, are a primary source of squeaky shoes.
You might wait for them to wear down on their own, but it’s simple to hasten the process. To roughen up the soles, simply rub them with sandpaper. To avoid causing too much damage, I recommend using fine sandpaper (120 grit or higher).
On hard flooring, leather soles and other hard materials should not squeak. If they do, sand with the finest sandpaper you can find.
Start with a modest amount of sanding and, if possible, try them out. Don’t overdo it; the more you sand off the sole, the shorter your shoes will endure.
If you don’t want to use fine grit sandpaper, rubber sole spray is an alternative.
Rubber sole spray is a substance that improves the traction of your shoes. It is more expensive than sandpaper, but it eliminates the need for unneeded damage.
3. Moisturize the insides of the body
As previously stated, shoes with leather interiors can squeak as the parts brush against each other. New shoes are more likely to squeak, although worn insoles can also squeak. That, on the other hand, necessitates a different answer, which you’ll see further below.
Moisturize the insides of new squeaky shoes to solve the problem. This can be done with leather conditioner, which will last a long time. Petroleum jelly (Vaseline, for example) also works well.
Apply a small bit of petroleum jelly to the squeaky spot with a cotton ball if you’re using it. If this is the case, rub a little bit around the toe joints. If at all possible, remove the insoles first.
However, keep in mind that petroleum jelly does not penetrate the leather as well as a leather conditioner. It’s possible that you’ll end up with greasy socks and feet, so use it cautiously. Coconut oil might also be used, although it has the same disadvantages.
Dress shoes, particularly those with removable insoles, are more susceptible to this. Sneakers shouldn’t have anything squeaky inside. However, if they do, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to remedy the problem because you can remove components in the same way.
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4. Replace any broken parts
It’s simple to stop old sneakers from squeaking. The most common source of squeaking is loose sole units, which occur when air escapes via small holes. We can rely on our old friend super glue to help us out here.
Small amounts of super glue should be smeared into the hole and pressed down as it dries. The glue hardens in less than 60 seconds, but it takes 24 hours to cure and get the best mechanical adherence. Get some woodworking clamps for this so you don’t have to stand for hours keeping your shoe together.
Although it may be done on foam and rubber-soled shoes, I prefer this procedure for sneakers and casual shoes rather than formal shoes. If your leather soles are squeaking due to wear and tear, the best choice is to take them to a shoe repair shop where they can be entirely resoled.
Because of how they’re produced, almost all shoes with composite sole units (foam, rubber, etc.) can’t be resoled. See if a cobbler can help, but they might not be able to do much more than glue them back together.
5. Make use of baby powder
Baby powder (also known as talcum powder) is a tried-and-true moisture absorber. As a result, it’s a good way to keep moisture out of your shoes. It also helps to reduce friction between inside components, which is another cause of squeaky shoes.
Talcum powder, for example, is frequently used to keep flooring from creaking.
Remove the insoles and dust them with baby powder if possible. Carry out the same procedure inside the shoes, moving them about to ensure that the liquid is distributed evenly. If you can’t remove the insole, you can still sprinkle baby powder in your shoes, but it won’t address the problem.
However, use caution while applying baby powder to your squeaky shoes. After you’ve taken them off, leave them for a few hours. While it’s wonderful for absorbing moisture, it’ll turn your wet shoes into a pasty mess, which isn’t ideal the next time you wear them.
It’s not a long-term solution because you’ll have to reapply baby powder every few wears. However, if you have some on hand, it will suffice in a pinch.
6. Make sure the leather is well hydrated
It’s worth emphasizing this topic once again since it’s critical. Apply leather conditioner to your shoes on a regular basis, paying special attention to the toe joint and lace areas.
Leather is the skin of an animal, and it, like your skin, need hydration. This will not only extend the life of your shoes, but it will also prevent them from squeaking.
Although most leather conditioners are intended for use on the exterior of shoes, nothing prevents you from applying them on the inside as well. Once a month, or more if you wear them every day, apply it.
7. Make use of dryer sheets
Squeaky soles and squeaky insides can both be solved with dryer sheets. A tiny layer of fabric softener is applied to the bottom of your shoes by rubbing a dryer sheet on them. Because it’s essentially like applying a layer of moisturizer, it can prevent shoes from squeaking.
Also, place a dryer sheet inside the shoe, preferably under the insole if possible. The dryer sheet serves as a barrier between the leather surfaces, preventing rubbing and squeaking.
It also has the added benefit of preventing your shoes from stinking!
Dryer sheets, like baby powder, aren’t a long-term answer. Every few wears, you’ll need to rub the soles and change the ones inside your shoes every few weeks.
8. Use a water-repellent spray
Anyone who wants to keep their shoes in good condition should invest in a shoe protector spray. Water flows off the shoes rather than soaking into the material because the spray is hydrophobic.
It works on all shoe materials, but it’s especially effective on suede, canvas, and cotton.
It keeps your shoes from becoming wet, which means you won’t have to deal with squeaky shoes as a result of water damage. However, it’s really only good for light rain or something comparable. If you plan on jumping in puddles, don’t expect to have dry feet!
9. Tighten the laces
By causing friction around the eyelets, laces can cause shoes to squeak. It’s a common issue with new shoes, but it can also occur in suede shoes that are older. The friction effectively converts the suede to leather, providing a squeakier surface for the laces to brush against.
Simply replace the laces with fresh ones (thinner is better). Also, avoid using leather or waxed laces, since these will aggravate the condition.
Polyester laces are the greatest choice, whether they’re for casual or dress shoes. When compared to other types, they will cause the least amount of friction.
You might also try applying saddle soap on the lace and tongue area to prevent friction (only on leather).
10. Make use of silica gel
Silica gel is an excellent moisture absorber and is good for usage on damp shoes. I propose looking for a reusable silica gel, such as the one used for flower drying. It will result in less waste and ensure that you have the product on hand at all times.
Fill your shoes with it or wrap it in tissue paper or another porous material. Silica gel absorbs extra moisture, which can exacerbate squeaky shoes.
It could be possible to use it to dry up water damage, but it will take a long time. Newspaper is frequently the most convenient thing for extremely moist shoes.
Last Thoughts
I hope the tips above may assist you in preventing your shoes from squeaking. It’s a vexing issue that I’m sure most of us have encountered at some point. Fortunately, as you can see, there are a variety of solutions.
Make an effort to figure out why your shoes are squeaky, as this will affect the solution you use and where you apply it.
Do you have any other suggestions for preventing squeaking shoes? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below; the more creative the better! See more useful article at my website shoestorenyc.com
